THE unfinished Aganan Flyover in Pavia town, Iloilo province. (Tara Yap)
ILOILO CITY – Iloilo Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. has asked Secretary Vince Dizon of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) the status of the unfinished P802-million flyover in Pavia town.
"I trust that under your leadership, the DPWH will prioritize transparency, accountability, and swift action to complete the Aganan Flyover,” Defensor told Dizon in a letter dated Sept. 29 released publicly on Oct. 2.
Defensor said the “prolonged delay has significantly disrupted traffic flow in the area and continues to affect the daily lives and convenience of our residents.”
The governor furnished copies of the letter to the DPWH-Western Visayas, Iloilo Rep. Kathryn Joyce Fermin-Gorriceta, and the Infrastructure Committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC).
The letter came out the same day DPWH-6 acting Regional Director Al Fruto announced that the Aganan Flyover needs an additional P285 million for completion.
The Aganan Flyover is one of the two controversial flyover projects lobbied by former Senate President Franklin Drilon, an Ilonggo, before he retired from politics.
The Aganan Flyover was first constructed in July 2020 but construction was halted in September 2022 when the nearby Ungka Flyover showed structural problems.
It was later found that the soil for the Aganan Flyover was not in a stable depth based on the recommendation of the firm hired by the DPWH Bureau of Design.
To fix this problem, jet grouting must be conducted to stabilize the soil and hold the flyover.